Apparatus for forming tubing into coils



Nov. -27, 1956 H. w. PAYNE.

APPARATUS FOR FGRMING TUBING INTO COILS Filed June 28, 1951 5 She'etQ-Sheet 1 132' &9 42 4a 52 G d 54 67 INVENTO Hamid M'B ne BY M4 Nov. 27, 1956 H. w. PAYNE APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBING INTO COILS 5 Sheets-sh et 2 Filed June 28 1951 3 nhhlllnn T em I! I my m M/ a H m w fl mm ww m E WWW. wN m E I |l|.|.||a| n" ww kw .H a n mm w mm mm mm wmw APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBING INTO COILS Filed June 28, 1951' 5 Sheets-Shet 3 I N VEN TOR.

Haraici M. Payne Nov. 27, 1956 H. w. PAYNE 2,771,934

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBINGINTO COIL-S Filed June 28, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1m, 12 6? zz 3 "i 62 61 j -58 37: r 59 2 5'2 :5 62 57 67 4141 I 115 r I I N VEN TOR.

- Bqyne Nov. 27, 1956 H. w. PAYNE 2,771,934

APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBING m'ro COJus Filed Juize T28, 1951 5"shegtsqsheat 5 I N VEN TOR.

United States Patent APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUBING INTO COILS Harold W. Payne, San Bernardino, Calif., assignor to Vapor Heating Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 28, 1951, Serial No. 233,968

3 Claims. Cl. 153-67) My invention relates to an apparatus for automatically forming tubing into coils, such as, for example, are used in boilers and steam generators of the water tube type.

Heretofore, tubular coils of the water tube type, such as are used in boilers and steam generators, for the most part, have been formed manually. Particularly, is this true in the case of coils which are of special form such as the type in which the major portions of the convolutions are disposed in parallel planes at right angles to the axis of the coil with adjacent convolutions being connected by an offset portion and with all of the ofiset portions being in alinement. Such coils are relatively costly and since the coils deteriorate in service and require replacement at periodic intervals, it will be apparent that the replacement of such coils is an important factor in operating overhead expense particularly, in the case of railroads which utilize a large number of such coils in boilers and steam generators used for car heating.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus for automatically forming tubing into coils of various types whereby the coils may be accurately and relatively rapidly fabricated at a fraction of the cost'of similar coils made according to prior art methods.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus of the foregoing character which has a high rate of production, which is relatively simple in its construction and which is highly eflicient in operation.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coil forming machine according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view on an enlarged scale of the coil winding mechanism of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view with the cover plate removed 2 porting and rotating two sections of tubing in end to end relation so as to simplify the operations for welding said sections together.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 1313 of'Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to the coil winding mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10, the numeral indicates generally a base supported on legs 21 of the type adapted to render the base 20 adjustable vertically. Supported on the base 20 are side frame members 22 and 23. Supported on frame member 23 and braced by member 24 is a member 26 having a slideway longitudinally thereof. Arranged for sliding movement in said slideway is a plate member 27 on which is carried a bearing journal 28, and spaced therefrom a post 29, the head 31 of which is threaded to receive a lead screw 32, the said lead screw being supported at the opposite end by an extension of the bracket member 24. A collar 33 is carried on the lead screw 32 as also a crank wheel 34. It will be apparent that rotation of the crank wheel 34 in clockwise or counterclockwise direction will effect sliding movement of the bearing 28 to the left or to the right respectively as viewed in Fig. 2. Supported on the side frame member 22 is a bearing 36 in which is journaled a stub shaft 37 on one end of which is keyed a gear 38, the said gear being one of a train of reducing gears indicated, generally by the numeral 39, driven by a motor 41. The opposite end of the stub shaft 37 is enlarged and is centrally bored and has keyed thereon for rotation therewith a driving member 42. The said member includes oppositely directed arms 43 from each face of which projects a pin 44. A projection 45 extends laterally from one of the arms 43 and is adapted to engage with and actuate a switch 40 mounted on frame member 22 for a purpose as will be hereinafter described.

Arbor construction The coil winding arbor, indicated generally by the numeral 50 comprises a shaft 51, the left-hand end 52 thereofbeing reduced in size and threaded. Abutting the shoulder 53 on shaft 51 is a chamfered disc 54 and adjacent the said disc 54 is a disc 56. Both the discs 54 and 56 are secured on the shaft 51 by a nut 57 which engages with the threads on the reduced end 52. Carried on the opposite end of the shaft 51 is another chamfered disc 58, the said disc being keyed to the shaft 51, but being adapted for axial movement relative thereto. Suitably anchored in the discs 54 and 58 and extending inwardly from each of the faces thereof are a plurality of posts 59, each of the posts being transversely perforated to receive a bolt or pin 61 on which is pivotally supported of the die elements for offsetting the tubing and showing the said elements in separated relation.

Fig. 7 is a similar view as Fig. 6 but showing the die elements in closed relation.

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of one form of tubular coil of the type adapted to be formed by the apparatus of my invention.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation View of the coil winding arbor in condition for winding with certain structural elements removed for purposes of clarity.

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing the arbor in collapsed condition preparatory to removal from the wound coil.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a detail of constrution.

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of a structure for supa pair of links 62. The links 62 on the respective discs 54 and 58 are in opposed radially alined relation and each set of opposed pairs of links 62 is adapted to support therebetween a coil supporting member 63 hereinafter to be described. In the embodiment illustrated and as seen more clearly in Fig. 3, six such coil spacing and supporting members 63 are provided. Each of said members is substantially T-shaped in transverse crosssection. The head 65 of each of the said members 63 is formed with a series of transverse grooves 64, the said grooves being spaced at desired distance apart. As seen more particularly in Fig. 3, the transverse portions 66 of the members 63 are arcuately formed and coincide with the bottoms of the grooves 64, thus providing an extended arcuat'e surface on which the coil to be wound may be supported, the said surface having a radius of curvature, the center of which is the axis of shaft 51. The members 63 are pivotally connected to the links 62 by bolts 67 which pass through registering perforations in the'said to draw the. arm 116 and roller 11? in the direction of the rollers 113 and 114 so that the upper roller 1.17 engages with the tubing section 6 o hold the same firmly in position while yet permitting rotation of the tubing section. The assembly 111 additionally includes an arm 1,25 fixed, with a ratchet wheel 120, the arm, ratchet wheel and roller rotating as a unit. A spring biased pawl member 115 cooperates with the ratchet wheel 120 to'permit movement of the roller 117 only in one direction. Movement of the roller 117 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 13 is eifected through a link member 122 connected to a foot treadle 123 in a well-known manner, a tension spring 124 serving to return the associated parts to non-operating position.

As will be apparent by reference to Fig. 12, the tubing sections 96 are arranged as illustrated with their ends in abutting relation. The chamfered ends of the tubing sections are thus held securely for welding and upon completion of a welding operation on one portion of the circumferential area of the tubing sections the operator merely depresses the foot treadle 123 which effects rota,- tion of the tubing sections a desired amount to expose another portion of the tubing for welding. Thus, it will be apparent that the tubing sections may be successively rotated to render accessible successive portions of tubing for welding.

Operation The operation of my improved apparatus should be apparent from the foregoing, but briefly stated it is as follows. The tubing is preferably composed of a plurality of sections Welded together, the ends of the sections being chamfered preparatory to welding. The prepared ends are then arranged in abutting relation, as illustrated in Fig. 12, and secured in position by tightening the wing nuts 121. The ends of the tubing sections are then welded together as with a torch in a well known manner, the operator effecting rotation of the tubing sections by manipulation of the foot treadle 123 in the manner hereinbefore described to render accessible successive portions of the tubing sections for welding. Upon completion of the welding of one joint the wing nuts 121 are released so as to permit the positioning of other tubing ends in abutting relationship. It will be apparent that the tubing must be suitably supported so as to prevent straining or buckling. For such purposes any suitable means providing rolling support for the tubing may be used, for example like those shown in Fig. 3 and indicated generally by the numeral 130. The said supports may rest on a floor surface or project from a wall surface.

Assuming that a plurality of tubing sections have been welded together so as to obtain a desired length of tubing, the said length is supported on suitable supports 139 and the end passed through the die elements 92 and 93 which in their normal position assume the open relationship illustrated in Fig. 6, with the tubing 96 engaging the groove of the leading portion of the die element 92. Depending upon the size of the tubing and the diameter of the coil to be wound, the carriage 78 and roller 71 are suitably adjusted in relation to the winding arbor 50 so as to prevent kinking of the tubing during forming.

The carriage 78 is locked in position by means of the latching member 87 which is caused to engage one of the notches 86 while the roller 71 is adjusted vertically by rotation of the squared end 77 of the pinion shaft. An anchor element 131 such as illustrated in Fig. ll is applied to the end of the tubing and is engaged with a transverse portion 66 of one or" the members 63 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. It will of course be understood that the position of the engaged member 63 bears a definite relationship to the position of the projection 45 on the member 43 so that offsetting of the first coil convolution is at a desired point .in relation to the end of the coil. The motor 41 is started by manipulating the switch 132 and the winding arbor 50 is caused to rotate in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 3. In the rota tion ot the Lumber 42, th projec ion 5 ill enga w Switch 40 to efiect energizati on of the solenoid valve of the air motor so as to admit compressed air into the cylinder of the motor to effect movement of the piston in a forward direction or in a position to close the die elements 92 and 93. Substantially at the beginning of such movement of the piston of the air motor the dog member 106 actuates the switches 103 and 104 to open the circuit to the motor 41 and thereby to eiiect stopping of the same. The piston of the air motor however continues to cause the die element 93 to move into confrontiug relation with the complemental die element 92 thereby bending the tubing 96 to the form illustrated in Fig. 7 so that the axes of the tubing portions on opposite sides of the angular portion are ofiset from each other but in parallel relation. Substantially near the end of the stroke of the piston the dog member 106 engages with the switch 107 which energizes the solenoid valve 90 to close off the air pressure supply and open an exhaust port so that the spring within the air motor may return the piston to normal position. the piston rod it engages with the switches 193 and 104 so as to effect a reverse actuation thereof and again effect closing of the circuit to the motor 41 to cause the same to drive the winding arbor 50. As will be apparent when the angular portion of the tubing reaches the arbor 50 it is received in the adjoining recesses 64 of the members 63 to be formed into a convolution in a plane at a right angle to the axis of the arbor and parallel to the plane of the first convolution. When the projection 45 on the driving member 42 again engages with the switch 40 the next cycle of operations is initiated and a second otfset portion is formed in the tubin in the manner hereinabove described. Thus, in the operation of the apparatus a continuous coil is formed in which the major portions of the convolutions are in parallel relation and in planes at right angles to the axis of the arbor with adjacent convolutions being connected by offset portions, all of which are in alinement. In the formation of successive convolutions in the coil, the oilsetting means which include the air cylinder and the die are free to move across the length of the arbor so as to be self-alining with the grooves in the arbor members.

Operating adjustments As will be apparent from the drawings, the apparatus is intended to form coils with one or more tiers of convolutions arranged in concentric relation. Thus, after the first tier of convolutions, as illustrated in Fig. 1 and indicated by the letter d, has been wound, a plurality of coil supporting elements 133 in the form of rods formed with undulations are suitably welded to the convolutions in spaced circumferential relation, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. The undulations serve the same purpose as the grooves of the members 63 to guide and position the tubing during its forming operation. As will be apparent, in the forming of the second series of convolutions 0 the winding operation proceeds in a direction opposite from that first described. It will of course be understood that in view of the increased diameter of the second series of convolutions c adjustment of the roller 71 as well as that of the carriage 78 in relation to the winding arbor 50 is necessary in order to avoid kinking of the tubing. As will be noted in Fig. 8, the second series of convolutions c is arranged in staggered relation to the first series 0!. Correspondingly, if a third series of convolutions is required, supporting elements like 133 aplied to the first series are suitably welded to the second series of convolutions and these elements serve as a. support and guide for winding the third series of convolutions. The convolutions .of the third series will be in staggered relation to the convolutions of the second series and in the same plane as the convolutions of the first series.

Upon completion of the. winding of one series and As the dog member 106 moves with preparatory to the winding of the next succeeding series of convolutions, the position of the die elements 92 and 93 must be reversed, for as will be observed in Fig. l,

the offsetting of the convolutions of the first series d is in the direction of winding, to the left, while the offa plates 89 and 91,"turn them upside down and replace them between the said plates, "securing-them with'the pin 98 and bolt 105. Thus, it will be apparent that the direction of the offset is, opposite from that first described.

Upon completion of the winding of the coil the crank or wheel 34 is rotated so as to turn the lead screw 32 in a counterclockwise direction to effect movement of the bearing 28 to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 thus permitting removal of the forming arbor andthe coil. This of course is eflected by drawing the arbor 50 and the coil to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, to efiect disengagement of the disc member from the pins 44 on the driving member 42. Thereafter, upon the application of tension in opposite directions to the chamfered discs the arbor ele- I ments 63 are caused to move inwardly radially to the position illustrated in Fig. 10, thereby efiecting a reduction in the effective diameter of the winding arbor and providing sufiicient clearance so that the arbor may be easily removed from the inside of the coil.

While Fig. 10 shows the arbor with the shaft removed therefrom, it will be understood that removal'of the shaft is not required in all cases, but is dependent. upon the diameter of the tubings and the diameter of the coil being formed, since it is conceivable that a partial collapse of the arbor may provide sufiicient clearance for easily removing the arbor from the formed coil.

It Will be apparent that a variety of sizes of winding arbors may be used with the driving apparatus, it being only necessary to withdraw the bearing journal 28 to permit removal of the arbor 50 in the manner described and when the pins 44 are engaged with the plate 56 of the new arbor, the bearing 28 is moved to the left, as viewed in Pig. 2, to receive the end of the arbor shaft 51. The end vertical face of the bearing 28 serves to retain the members 63 in expanded condition, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 9. ,Correspondingly the same apparatus may be used with die elements of various sizes so thata variety of sizes of tubing may be used for forming coils of various diameters.

I claim: 1. An apparatus for forming tubing into coils comprising a supporting structure, a winding arbor rotatably mounted in said structure and provided with means comprising a plurality of spaced apart bars for supportingcoil.

'2; In apparatus for automatically forming tubing into concentrically arranged coils of different diameters, the convolutions of which are provided with ofisets defining angular portions disposed in horizontal arrangement with the ends of adjacent ofiset portions aligned horizontally with each other in planes extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said arbor, the combination of a winding arbor having meansjor supporting convolutionsoftubing thereon, electrically energized power means forrotating said arborto wind thetubing thereon, means com- 7 prising a carriage disposed in advance of said arbor and movable lengthwise thereof to support an unwound length of tubing in alignment with successively formed convolutions, means on said carriage comprising a fixed die elc ment, a movable di e element and means'for operating the 'movable die element to form offsets in the saidunwound I 7 length of tubing at predetermined locations, electrical means controlled by the operation of said arhor for activating the die operating means, switch means actuated by movement of said-die operating means in one direction to de-energize the arbor rotating means during said offsetting operation, switch means actuated by reverse movement of said die operating means to re-energize said arbor rotating means, and a second carriage arranged for movementin a direction at right angles to'the axis of rotation of said arbor and providing a support for the first mentioned carriage, whereby the position of said ofisetting dies relative to'the arbor may be varied to increase or decrease the linear distance measured circumferentially of the coil between said ofisets.

3. In apparatus for automatically forming tubing into coils of difierent diameters, the convolutions of which are provided with ofisets defining angular portions disposed in horizontal arrangement with the ends of adjacent ofisets aligned horizontally with each other in planes extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arbor, the combination of a winding arbor having means for supporting convolutions oftubing thereon, electrically energized means for rotating said arbor to wind the tubing thereon,-rneans, comprising a carriage disposed in advance of said arbor and movable lengthwise .thereof to support an unwound length of tubing in alignment with successively formed convolutions, means on said carriage comprising a fixed die element, a movable die elementand means for operating the movable die element'to form otisetsin the said unwound length of tubing at predetermined locations, electrical means controlled by the operation of said arbor for actuating the die operating means, switch means actuated by movement of said die operating means in one direction to de-energize the arbor rotating means during 7 said ofisetting'operation, switch means actuated by reverse movement of said die operating meansto re-energize firstmentioned carriage, whereby the position of said offsetting dies relative to the arbor may be varied to increase or decrease the linear distance measured circumferentially of the coil between said otfsets, and means for;

locking the second carriage in its various adjusted positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS' 25,294 Weimer Aug. 30, 1859 475,194 Burton May 17, 1892 736,834 Flinn z Aug. 18, 1903 799,670 Reynolds Sept. 19, 1905 856,847 Connors June 11, 1907 1,197,774 Smith Sept. 12, 1916 1,210,894 B'rinkman' Jan. 2, 1917 1,726,279 Werner Aug. 27, 1929 1,940,830 Weyerbacher Dec.'26, 1933 2,012,452 Littell Aug. 27, 1935 2,229,462 Kurtz Jan. 21, 1941 2,294,434 Wilson Sept. 1, 1942. 2,329,434 Cave a Sept. 14, 1943 2,333,301 Dorn et al. in Nov. '2, 1943 2,371,107 Mapes Mar. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 468,401 Germany Nov. 12, 1928 ,1 10,504

Australia May 16, 1940 

